Powerful forces of all types, commanded by Vice
Admiral R. A. Spruance, U. S. Navy, have begun operations the objective of
which is the capture of the Marshall Islands.

Following intensive preparatory bombardment of enemy
installations by carrier‑based aircraft and by battleships and light
surface units, Army and Marine assault forces have initially established
beachheads on islands in the vicinity of Roi and Kwajalein Islands, in
Kwajalein Atoll. Installations on Wotje and Maloelap Atolls were heavily
bombarded by carrier aircraft and by surface forces.

All amphibious operations are commanded by Rear
Admiral R. K. Turner,

107

U. S. Navy. The assault troops are directed by Major
General H. M. Smith, USMC. The landing attacks in the Roi Island area are being
made by troops of the Fourth Marine Division, commanded by Major General Harry
Schmidt, USMC. The landings are being effected in the Kwajalein Island area by
troops of the Seventh Infantry Division, commanded by Major Gene­ral Charles H.
Corlett, U. S. Army.

Strong opposition is being encountered in both
assault areas. Initial information indicates that our casualties are moderate.

Supporting air attacks are being made at Kwajalein,
Maloelap, Wotje, Mille, Jaluit, Eniwetok and Wake by carrier task forces
commanded by Rear Admiral M. H. Mitscher, U. S. Navy, by units of the Seventh
Army Air Force, commanded by Major General Willis H. Hale, U. S. Army, and by
Units of Fleet Air Wing Two commanded by Rear Admiral John D. Price, J. S.
Navy. All shore‑based aircraft in the Gilberts are operating under the
direction of Commander Aircraft, Central Pacific Force, Rear Admiral John H.
Hoover, U. S. Navy.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 247, FEBRUARY 1, 1944

The following information supplementing that
contained in Communiqués Number 25 and Number 26 is available concerning Naval
air strikes in the Marshall Islands and at Wake Island on January 29 and 30
(West Longitude Date):

In the attack on Taroa Island on January 29 our
carrier‑based aircraft shot down four enemy planes and destroyed or
damaged 39 others on the ground. In the attack on Wotje, one enemy plane was
shot down and fuel and ammunition storage leas were set on fire. Large
explosions were observed in the ammunition dump. Our reported losses in the
Taroa and Wotje strikes were comparatively minor. Several pilots were rescued.

Our Coronados which raided Wake on the night of
January 30‑31 dropped more than 20 tons of bombs on runway and ground
installations, starting large fires. Antiaircraft was light and no fighter
opposition was encountered.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 248, FEBRUARY 1, 1944

Twenty‑two planes of a squadron of 23 Marine
Corsair fighters failed to reach their destination in a routine flight from
Gilbert Islands to a base in the Ellice Islands on January 25 (West Longitude
Date), when they ran into a severe local weather disturbance.

One plane reached base safely, one made a crash landing
on another island in the Ellice group, and the remainder, as far as is known,
landed at sea.

Search operations were started immediately, and all
but six of the pilots are safe. One body has been recovered and five of the
pilots are missing. their next of kin have been notified.

109

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 28, FEBRUARY 2, 1944

Our forces have captured Roi Island.

Landings have been made on Kwajalein and Namur
Islands and the action is progressing favorably. On Namur the enemy has been
contained in the extreme northern portion of the island, and at Kwajalein our
troops are firmly established and are pushing the enemy back.

Continuous bombardments of beaches by our warships,
planes, and land-­based artillery enabled our forces to make landings on the
three principal objectives with little resistance.

We have suffered no Naval losses and casualties are
very moderate. It is now apparent that the attack took the enemy completely by
surprise.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 29, FEBRUARY 3, 1944

Our forces have captured Namur and several adjacent
islands.

Resistance continues on Kwajalein Island, but we have
landed troops and mechanized equipment in force and are proceeding with the
annihilation of the enemy.

FEBRUARY 3,
1944

BRITISH AND AMERICAN DESTROYERS ACCOUNT FOR
ANOTHER U‑BOAT

Close cooperation between the British destroyer HMS Calpe and the United States destroyer USS Wainwright resulted in the destruction of a German U‑boat
recently, in the Mediterranean.

Earlier, Allied aircraft had conducted a search for
36 hours which was credited with materially hampering the submarine's
activities.

There was relative calm, after the tumult of gun
battle, for at the actual sinking not a shot was fired—and the Commanding
Officer of the Wainwright abandoned
his plan to ram the U‑boat, when he saw that it was in its death throes.

A white sea serpent was painted on either side of the
German craft's conning tower, but beyond that, there was no identification mark
visible.

Commander Walter W. Strohbehn, United States Navy,
36, 904 West Sixth Street, Davenport, Iowa, Commanding Officer of the Wainwright, reported to Admiral Ernest
J. King, United States Navy; Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, that 36
hours of harassing the U‑boat received from the constant air search
accounted for the submarine's slow speed and sluggish evasive maneuvers.
Commander Strohbehn complimented the United States Army Air Forces for its part
in keeping the submarine hampered.

The Calpe made a sound contact with the
submarine at 8:16 a.m. From then on the surface hunt went forward persistently,
as eyes and ears were alert for the German craft.

About 2:47 p.m., the submarine surfaced, under the
unremitting depth charge attacks by the British and American destroyers. The U‑boat
was en­gaged by gunfire, but the battle waned when it was observed that the
undersea craft was about to sink. The Commanding Officer of the American
destroyer planned to ram the submarine, but abandoned this, when itwas observed thatthe U‑boat was doomed.

The submarine sank at 3 :08 p.m.

109

Commander Strohbehn wrote in his official report that
it was "a pleasure to work with" the British warship. He declared:

"She turned in a polished performance, always
being in the proper place, always being ready and she was quick to grasp the
intentions of this ship."

The Commander of the American Destroyer Squadron to
which the at­tacking United States vessel was attached—Captain James P. Clay,
United States Navy, 43, 3060 Porter Street, Northwest, Washington, D.
C.—attributed the victory over the German craft to the fine teamwork between
the British and American warships—despite the fact that no prior joint drills
had been held.

The British Admiralty officially extended its
congratulations for the sink­ing of the enemy craft. The Commanding Officer of
the Calpe was Lieutenant Commander H.
Kirkwood, Royal Navy.

Vice Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, United States Navy,
Commander of the United States Naval Forces in Northwest African Waters,
likewise compli­mented those who took part in the destruction of the U‑boat.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 501, FEBRUARY 4, 1944

North Pacific.

On the night of February 2‑3, two Navy
Catalinas from the Aleutian Islands bombed enemy installations on the southeast
coast of Paramushiru. Results of the bombing were not observed. No enemy planes
were encountered. Both of our planes returned.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 502, FEBRUARY 4, 1944

South Atlantic.

1. Within the space of 48 hours early in January,
three German blockade runners, heavily laden with vital war materials, were
sent to the bottom of the South Atlantic by surface forces of the United States
Navy operating under the command of Vice Admiral Jonas Ingram, USN.

2. The enemy ships sunk were the Burgenland, Rio Grande and Weser­land,
en route from Far Eastern Japanese‑held ports. Their holds were
filled with thousands of tons of rubber, tin, fats and strategic ores.

3. The blockade runners were sunk by the USS Somers, destroyer, and the light cruiser
Omaha and the destroyer Jouett. A large number of prisoners were
picked up following the sinkings. In two of the sinkings, Navy search planes
found the enemy ships and called for the surface force to complete their
destruction. The Weserland fell to
the Somers alone while the other two
were scuttled by their crews and their sinking hastened by gunfire from the Omaha and the Jouett.

4. Summoned by planes, the Somers found her target in the darkness of early morning and, on
identifying the vessel as hostile, opened fire with her main battery of five‑inch
guns. The first salvo hit the Weserland, forcing
the crew to abandon ship. The destroyer then sank the vessel after internal
explosions were set of by the crew as they left. Survivors were picked up at
daylight.

5. A scouting plane from the Omaha and a lookout in the
ship's foretop were the first to sight the RioGrande. As the Omaha and
the Jouett closed to investigate the
stranger she burst into smoke and flame, the result of

110

demolition charges placed by the crew. The two American
warships fired six-inch and five‑inch shells into the blockade runner and
she soon sank.

6. On the following day the Omaha and Jouett found
the Burgenland. As the U. S. warships approached, a similar scene to that
enacted by the RioGrande took
place. However, destruction was completed as in the former case by shell fire.

7. Hundreds of tons of baled rubber found floating
amid the debris after the sinkings were recovered and are now on their way to
the United States

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 30, FEBRUARY 4, 1944

Operations at the Kwajalein Atoll continue
satisfactorily.

Our forces have landed on Ebeye, north of Kwajalein
Island. The landing was unopposed but resistance was encountered a short
distance inland from the beach. We have now occupied half the island.

Two small islands between Kwajalein and Ebeye have
been occupied following neutralization of moderate opposition. Gugegwe and Loi
Islands, north of Ebeye, have been taken under attack by bombing and Naval
gunfire, and the enemy is answering our fire.

Resistance on Kwajalein Island continues, but
progress is being made. Our casualties continue to be moderate.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 31, FEBRUARY 5, 1944

Kwajalein, Ebeye, and Loi Islands have been captured
by our forces.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 253, FEBRUARY 5, 1944

Carrier‑based aircraft attacked Eniwetok Atoll
on February 3 (West Longitude Date), dropping many tons of bombs on the
airfield and nearby tanks. Two enemy planes were destroyed on the ground.

Warhawk fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force
machine‑gunned and bombed Mille Atoll on February 3. On the same day Army
Ventura medium bombers sank a small freighter and dumped bombs on Imieji Island
in the Jaluit Atoll. We suffered no casualties in either raid.

Wake Island was bombed on the night of February 4‑5
by two squadrons of Coronados of Fleet Air Wing Two. None of our planes was
lost.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 32, FEBRUARY 6, 1944

Occupation of the Kwajalein Atoll is nearly complete.

Gugegwe, Bigej, and Ebler Islands have been captured
after moderate resistance, and several additional undefended islands occupied.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 254, FEBRUARY 6, 1944

Carrier‑based aircraft struck Eniwetok on
February 5 (West Longitude Date). No further information is presently
available.

On the same day Warhawk fighters of the Seventh Army
Air Force hit Jaluit, bombing and strafing ground installations.

111

On February 4 Seventh Army Air Force Liberators and
Mitchell bombers dropped bombs on Wotje, starting large fires among ground
facilities. Mitchells and Liberators hit airdrome installations and gun
emplacements at Maloelap, and Liberators and Warhawks struck Mille.

No fighter opposition was encountered in these raids,
and all of our planes returned to their bases.

On February 3, Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing
Two bombed radio facilities and ground installations at Wotje, Ujelang and
Taroa Island. None of our planes was lost.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 503, FEBRUARY 7, 1944

North Pacific.

1. At 10:00 p.m. February 4 (Tokyo Time) U. S. Naval
surface units bombarded enemy installations on the south and east coast of
Paramushiru. A number of fires were started, and one unidentified enemy ship
was hit and beached. Enemy coastal guns returned fire, but U. S. units
sustained no damage.

2. During the same night a flight of our aircraft
bombed Paramushiru and Shimushu. All U. S. planes returned.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 255, FEBRUARY 7, 1944

The following details regarding casualties in the
assault on Kwajalein Atoll have been compiled on the basis of reports received
as of the evening of February 6 (West Longitude Date)

In the Southern Attack Force, which captured
Kwajalein Island and adjacent objectives, our dead number 157, our wounded 712,
our missing 17. In the same area the enemy dead number 4,650, enemy prisoners
173.

In the Northern Attack Force, which captured Roi and
Namu Islands and adjacent objectives, our dead number 129, our wounded 436, our
missing 65. In the same area the enemy dead number 3,472, enemy prisoners 91.

It is expected final figures will vary only slightly
from the above.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 504, FEBRUARY 8, 1944

1. The U. S. Submarine Cisco and the U. S.
Submarine S-44, are overdue from patrol and must be presumed to be lost.

2. The next of kin of personnel in the Cisco
and the S‑44 have been so informed.

FEBRUARY 8, 1944

NAVY CONSOLIDATED CATALINA SINKS GERMAN U‑BOAT.

Struck by heavy flak from the antiaircraft guns of a
Nazi submarine, while still a considerable distance from her target, a United
States Navy Consolidated Catalina kept straight on her course to make a
definite "kill" of the U‑boat, in the South Atlantic some
months ago.

Survivors of the U‑boat sinking were
subsequently rescued by the USS Siren, a converted yacht acting as a
patrol vessel, after they had been adrift

112

in the ocean for some 16 days in life rafts dropped by the
Naval flyers at the time of the submarine's sinking. The USS Siren is commanded by Lieuten­ant Commander Charles K. Post, USNR,
47, of Bayport, Long Island, New York.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 33, FEBRUARY 8, 1944

1. Organized resistance on Kwajalein Atoll has ceased
and its capture and occupation have been completed.

JOINT STATEMENT,
FEBRUARY 9, 1944

The following Joint Anglo‑American statement on
submarine and anti­submarine operations is issued under the authority of the
President and the Prime Minister:

"The year 1944 has
opened with a very satisfactory first month for the Allies in their continued
campaign against the U‑boat.

"In spite of the
limited opportunities to attack U‑boats owing to the extreme caution now
exercised by them, more were destroyed in January than in December. This has
been accomplished by unrelenting offensive action of our surface and air
forces.

"The amount of
merchant ship tonnage sunk by U‑boats during Janu­ary 1944 is amongst the
lowest monthly figures for the whole war.

"The German claims
should, as usual, be ignored as they are grossly exaggerated and issued purely
for propaganda purposes."

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 258, FEBRUARY 9, 1944

Aircraft of the Seventh Army Air Force, search planes
of Fleet Air Wing Two and warships of the Pacific Fleet continued attacks on
enemy‑held atolls in the Marshall Islands on February 6 and 7 (West
Longitude Date).

Several small enemy boats were sunk at Jaluit Atoll
on February 6, by search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two and fighters of the
Seventh Army Air Force.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 261, FEBRUARY 9, 1944

The USS Burns, a destroyer commanded by
Lieutenant Commander Donald T. Eller, sank an entire convoy of four enemy ships
in the Marshall Islands area on January 31 (West Longitude Date).

The Burns was
attached to a carrier task force and was sent to rescue Navy fliers forced down
at sea. Returning toward the task force, she en­countered a tanker, a medium
cargo vessel, and two smaller craft, and sank all with gunfire.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 263, FEBRUARY 10, 1944

Air attacks on enemy‑held islands in the
Central Pacific continued during February 7, 8, and 9 (West Longitude Date).

On the night of February 8‑9, Coronado bombers
of Fleet Air Wing Two

113

raided Wake, with bomb hits on the airdrome and barracks
areas. All of our planes returned safely.

During February 7, Seventh Army Air Force Warhawk
fighters and Mitchell medium bombers dropped 33 tons of bombs on enemy bases in
the Marshall Islands without loss or casualties to our forces.

On February 8, Seventh Army Air Force Warhawk
fighters, Dauntless dive bombers and Liberators dropped 24 tons of bombs on
Marshall Islands targets.

On February 9 Army Liberators dropped a total of 57
tons of bombs on Marshall Atolls.

During the same period covered by these raids, units
of the Pacific Fleet shelled two enemy‑held atolls in the Marshalls while
Navy search planes carried out individual bombing and strafing missions.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 505, FEBRUARY 11, 1944

Pacific and Far
East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the following
results of operations against the enemy in these waters:

Sunk:

1 large auxiliary.

2 medium transports.

1 medium cargo transport.

2 large tankers.

5 medium freighters.

1 small freighter.

2. These actions have not been announced in any
previous Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 266, FEBRUARY 11, 1944

Wake Island was attacked by Coronado bombers of Fleet
Air Wing Two on February 10 (West Longitude Date). This was the second attack
on Wake within two days. We suffered no loss.

Seventh Army Air Force Liberators, Mitchells,
Dauntless dive-bombers and Warhawk fighters continued raids against enemy‑held
Marshall Islands atolls during February 10. The Liberators dropped 72 tons of
bombs in the target areas, the Mitchells 13 tons and the dive‑bombers and
fighters more than 15 tons, in addition to their heavy strafing. No fighter
opposition was en­countered in any of these raids.

Our warships bombarded an important enemy‑held
atoll in the Marshalls group without drawing return fire.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 270, FEBRUARY 14, 1944

Pacific Fleet carrier‑based aircraft attacked
Eniwetok Atoll on February 10, 11, and 12 (West Longitude Date). Airdrome and
other ground Installa­tions were heavily bombed. There was no fighter
opposition, and no antiair­craft fire was encountered.

On the same day, Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell
bombers, Dauntless dive bombers and Airacobra fighters attacked three enemy‑held
atolls in the Marshall Islands dropping bombs and strafing with machine guns
and cannon. Navy search planes made small scale bombing attacks on Ujelang and
Utirik Atolls.

Small force of enemy bombers raided Roi Island in the
Kwajalein Atoll during the night of February 11 and 12. Our damage and
casualties were moderate.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 271, FEBRUARY 16, 1944

Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked
Ponape in considerable force at noon February 14 (West Longitude Date). More
than 55 tons of bombs were dropped, principally on shore installations. A small
cargo ship was sunk in the harbor. There was no fighter opposition and all of
our planes returned to base.

Liberators, Mitchells, Dauntless dive bombers and
Warhawk fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force and search planes of Fleet Air
Wing Two con­tinued attacks on enemy‑held bases in the Marshall Islands
during February 14‑15, bombing installations on five atolls.

Gjit Island, in the eastern Marshall Islands, was
attacked by a Navy search plane on February 14.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 34, FEBRUARY 17, 1944

At daylight yesterday morning, February 16, (West
Longitude Date), powerful Naval task forces of the U. S. Pacific Fleet
commenced an attack on the Japanese Naval base at Truk with several hundred of
our planes par­ticipating. No further details available.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 35, FEBRUARY 18, 1944

The capture of Eniwetok Atoll has been undertaken by
forces of the Pacific Ocean Areas. Army and Marine assault troops have landed
and estab­lished beachheads.

The initial landings took place after strong
preliminary attacks by car­rier‑based aircraft and by heavy ships of the
Pacific Fleet.

The troops went ashore under the cover of battleship
gunfire and with the close support of low flying Naval aircraft.

All forces participating are under the immediate
command of Rear Admiral R. K. Turner. The amphibious forces are commanded by
Rear Admiral H. W. Hill. The assault troops comprising the Twenty‑second
Marines and elements of the One Hundred and Sixth Army Infantry are commanded
by Brigadier General T. E. Watson, USMC.

2. These sinkings have not been reported in any
previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

115

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 36, FEBRUARY 19, 1944

Our forces have captured the enemy air base at Engebi
and several other Islands in the northern portion of the Eniwetok Atoll.
Preliminary reports Indicate our casualties have been light.

Assaults on other portions of the atoll are
proceeding according to schedule.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 273, FEBRUARY 19, 1944

Supplementing the major attacks on Truk and Eniwetok,
our forces have continued to neutralize other enemy bases in the Central
Pacific Area.

On February 16 (West Longitude Date) Liberators,
Dauntless dive bombers, and Warhawk fighters of the Seventh Army Air Force
attacked four atolls in the Eastern Marshall Islands. At one base Warhawks blew
up a fuel dump, damaged a small cargo ship, and sank three small craft. On the
same day search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed ground installations at two
other atolls.

On February 17, Army Liberators bombed warehouses and
docks at Ponape, and harbor installations at Kusaie. Army Liberators and
Warhawks attacked an Eastern Marshalls base, and Navy search planes bombed and
strafed installations at two other atolls.

Between February 14‑18 our warships repeatedly
shelled important enemy positions in the Eastern Marshalls.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ
NO. 37, FEBRUARY 20, 1944

The Pacific Fleet has returned at Truk the visit made
by the Japanese Fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and effected a
partial settlement of the debt. Initial approach was undetected.

During attacks on February 16 and 17 (West Longitude
Date) our carrier planes destroyed at least 201 enemy aircraft, 127 of which
were shot down in combat. More than fifty additional enemy aircraft were
damaged on the ground. There was no enemy air opposition on the second day of
the attack.

Enemy surface ships sunk included two light cruisers,
three destroyers, one ammunition ship, one seaplane tender, two oilers, two
gunboats, and eight cargo ships. Additional enemy ships probably sunk included
one cruiser or large destroyer, two oilers, and four cargo ships.

Shore facilities on the principal islands, including
airdrome runways and installations, were thoroughly bombed and strafed.

Our losses were 17 planes. None of our ships was
lost, but one sustained moderate damage.

Aircraft of the Seventh Army Air Force and Navy
search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two continued bombing attacks on enemy
positions in the Marshall and Caroline Islands during February 18 (West
Longitude Date).

116

Army Liberators bombed docks and shipping at Kusaie,
sinking a small ship.

Army Warhawks and Navy Ventura and Liberator search
planes attacked four Marshall atolls, scoring hits on ground installations, an
airfield and a radio station.

None of our planes was lost.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 38, FEBRUARY 21, 1944

Our forces have landed on Eniwetok Island. Have
possession of the west­ern half of the island. The attack is being carried out
by elements of the 106th Infantry supplemented by a unit of the 22nd Marines.

Except for Parry Island, the remainder of the Atoll
is in our hands.

Our casualties continue to be light.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 39, FEBRUARY 21, 1944

Our forces have captured Eniwetok Island. Enemy
resistance has been stubborn, and small pockets of troops are yet to be
overcome. Parry Island is being heavily attacked by our air and surface forces.

Preliminary reports indicate that our over‑all
casualties in the capture of the Eniwetok Atoll as of last night are
approximately 150 dead and 350 wounded.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 275, FEBRUARY 21, 1944

Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four attacked
Paramushiru and Shimushu Islands in the Kuriles during the night of February 19
and 20, (West Longitude Date). More than five tons of bombs were dropped. Anti­aircraft
fire was encountered at all targets, but all of our planes returned safely to
base.

Ships of the Pacific Fleet bombarded enemy‑held
positions in the Marshall Islands on February 19.

FEBRUARY 20, 1941

U. S. NAVAL COMMANDS NAMED

Rear Admiral Alan Goodrich Kirk, USN, has been named
Commander of the United States Task Force, operating as part of the Combined
Naval Force in England.

In addition, Rear Admiral John Lesslie Hall, Jr.,
USN, and Rear Admiral John Wilkes, USN, have been placed in command of units of
Rear Admiral Kirk's Task Force.

Admiral Harold R. Stark, USN, is the Commander of all
United States Naval Forces in the United Kingdom Area.

117

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 40, FEBRUARY 23, 1944

1. The conquest of Eniwetok Atoll was completed on
the evening of Feb­ruary 22 (West Longitude Date) with the capture of Parry
Island.

The enemy garrison which defended the atoll is
estimated at 3,000.

2. A strong Pacific Fleet Task Force, including
several hundred carrier-based aircraft, struck Saipan and Tinian Islands in the
Mariana Group, on February 22 (West Longitude Date). Further details are not
now available.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 281, FEBRUARY 25, 1944

1. The following information has been received
supplementing Communiqué No. 40:

Attacks on our ships were carried out continuously
during the night and the morning of February 22 by enemy land‑based
torpedo planes and bombers. Fourteen of the attacking planes were shot down by
our antiaircraft fire and five more were shot down by our air patrols.

In spite of the persistent and continuing attacks,
our carriers launched their planes according to schedule.

Two attacks were carried out in force against the
principal targets, and a smaller raid was made at Guam. A total of 29 enemy
planes were shot down over the targets, and an additional 87 planes were
wrecked on the ground. A total of 135 enemy aircraft was destroyed.

Few enemy ships were found; one cargo ship was sunk,
another was severely damaged and apparently beached, and another was set afire.
One patrol craft was blown up and seven other small ships were damaged. Small
boats in the harbor areas were strafed.

Runways, seaplane aprons, and other airdrome
facilities, fuel dumps and buildings were heavily bombed and strafed.

Our losses were six planes. None of our ships was
sunk or damaged.

2. On February 23 (West Longitude Date) Liberators of
the Seventh Army Air Force bombed wharves, radio facilities, and the cantonment
area at Kusaie. On the same day Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two
bombed Kusaie dock areas, sinking one ship and damaging another. In addi­tion a
hit was made on an ammunition dump, which exploded.

Army Mitchell bombers, Warhawk fighters, and Navy
search Venturas bombed and strafed ground installations on four enemy‑held
atolls in the Western Marshall Islands. Although several planes were damaged,
all re­turned to their base.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 276, FEBRUARY 23, 1944

Enemy‑held positions in the Caroline and
Marshall Islands were attacked by aircraft of the Seventh Army Air Force and
search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two during February 21 and 22 (West Longitude
Date).

On February 21, Army Liberators dropped 30 tons of
bombs on Ponape and bombed Kusaie twice with a total of 6 tons of bombs. Fires
were started in the harbor areas of both targets. Nauru Island was also bombed
by a Navy search Ventura.

On February 22, Army Warhawk fighters twice attacked
a single enemy-held atoll in the Marshall Group, strafing small vessels in the
harbor and bombing the airfield.

None of our planes was lost.

On February 21 an atoll in the Eastern Marshalls,
which is still occupied by the enemy was bombarded by ships of the Pacific
Fleet.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 277, FEBRUARY 24, 1944

Carrier based planes of the Pacific Fleet twice
attacked an enemy‑held atoll in the Marshall Islands on February 20 (West
Longitude Date).

More than thirty tons of bombs were dropped on three
islands of the atoll. On the first island, fires were started in two hangars, a
radio station was demolished, barracks and ammunition storage areas were hit.
On the second, ground installations were bombed and strafed. On the third, dock
areas, radio facilities and a power station were hit.

Although several of our planes were damaged by
antiaircraft fire, none was shot down. There was no fighter interception.

CINCPAC PRESS
RELEASE NO. 286, FEBRUARY 27, 1944

1. A study of reconnaissance photographs of Truk has
revealed total dam­age to shipping greater than was originally announced.

2. On February 25 and 26 (West Longitude Date) enemy
bases in the Central Pacific area were attacked by aircraft of the Seventh Army
Air Force and Fleet Air Wing Two.

On the 25th, Army Liberators dropped 30 tons of bombs
on Ponape, scoring hits on docks, airdrome installations, a gasoline dump, and
a cargo ship.

On the same day Army Mitchells and Warhawks and Navy
Venturas at­tacked four enemy‑held Marshall Island bases. An Army
Liberator bombed Kusaie and a Navy search plane bombed Nauru.

On the 26th Army Mitchells and Warhawks, and Navy
Venturas attacked three enemy‑held atolls in the Marshalls.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 507, FEBRUARY 29, 1944

Pacific and Far
East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of 14
enemy vessels in operations in these waters, as follows:

1 large tanker

1 medium cargo transport

1 small cargo vessel

11 medium cargo vessels

2. These actions have not been announced in any
previous Navy Depart­ment communiqué.

119

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 287, FEBRUARY 29, 1944

Aircraft of the Seventh Army Air Force and search
planes of Fleet Air Wing Two on February 26 and 27 (West Longitude Date) bombed
and machine­-gunned Japanese‑held positions in the Caroline and Marshall
Islands.

Army Liberator bombers hit Ponape with 30 tons of
bombs on February 27, causing fires and explosions. Navy search planes strafed
dock areas and a small ship at Kusaie on February 26.

Nearly 50 tons of bombs were dropped on seven enemy‑held
atolls in the Marshall Islands on February 27 by Army Liberator and Mitchell
bombers, Army Warhawk fighters, Army Dauntless dive‑bombers and Navy search
Venturas.

Several of our planes were damaged by antiaircraft
fire, but all returned to their base.